Master of Arts in Latin American Studies

The master of arts in Latin American studies is designed for students who seek to integrate a broad range of disciplinary approaches to a world region of growing international significance. Upon graduation, most students pursue additional advanced degrees in academic or professional fields; others proceed to careers in the private sector, in international organizations, or in government.

To qualify for admission, students must have a BA with a grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for the final two years of undergraduate study plus satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination.

To receive the master of arts in Latin American studies, a student must

Demonstrate foreign language competence in Spanish or Portuguese.

Maintain a 3.0 GPA in forty units of course work (about ten courses)
to be completed as follows:

Complete the Latin American Studies Basic Seminar Sequence: twelve
units must be taken in the required Core Seminar in Latin American Studies
(LATI 200, four units), four units in approved theory seminar, and four
units in approved methodology seminar.

Courses must be completed in at least three fields, with no more than
sixteen units in any one department. Students are encouraged
to include four units of independent research (LATI 299) for work on
the master’s
thesis.

At least sixteen units must be taken in graduate-level courses, and
up to sixteen units may be taken in upper-division, undergraduate-level
courses.

Successfully complete either a comprehensive exam or master’s
thesis.

MA students have the option to upgrade upper-division, undergraduate-level courses to graduate-level courses (contact the Latin American studies student affairs coordinator for information on requirements and procedures). To convert an undergraduate-level course (100 level) into a 298 graduate-level course, a student must attend all of the course meetings and incorporate a component of additional, graduate-level research work, upon arrangement with the faculty member teaching the course (a special form describing the supplementary work must be filled by the student and approved by the instructor and CILAS’ academic coordinator). In all such cases, the supplementary work should (a) increase the amount of reading to match the regular reading expectations of a graduate seminar, (b) include additional meeting time with the professor for a graduate-level discussion of the material, and (c) require the student to write a research paper (which would generally be on the order of fifteen to twenty pages).

Disciplinary and Thematic Concentrations

MA students in Latin American studies who are interested in specific disciplines or research topics may apply for a disciplinary or thematic concentration. Currently students may choose from concentrations in cultural studies, gender studies, international migration, history, and sociology.

In addition to the general requirements for all candidates applying for admission to the master of arts in Latin American studies, applicants to a concentration must submit a statement explaining their intellectual and career interests in that specific area of study. Applications from new students will be considered for the fall quarter. Current students in the Latin American studies master’s program may apply in the spring quarter of their first year.

MA students who were previously enrolled as undergraduates at UC San Diego will not be allowed to repeat courses for credit toward the concentration. In all cases there are alternatives, and those students will be expected to take other classes to fulfill the requirements.

General Concentration Requirements

To receive the master of arts in Latin American studies with a concentration, a student must

Demonstrate foreign language competence in Spanish or Portuguese.

Maintain a 3.0 GPA in forty units of course work (about ten courses)
to be completed as follows:

Complete the Latin American Studies Basic Seminar Sequence: twelve
units must be taken in the required Core Seminar in Latin American Studies
(LATI 200, four units), four units in approved theory seminar, and four
units in approved methodology seminar.

Complete sixteen units within the specifications of the concentration
(as specified below). All of the concentration units must be taken at
the graduate level (200 level), and a maximum of two undergraduate-level
courses (100 level) may be upgraded to graduate-level 298 courses.

Complete twelve units of general electives within the specification
of the concentration (as specified below). At least 50 percent of the
general elective units must be taken at the graduate level (200 level).

Successfully complete a master’s thesis on a topic relevant
to the area of concentration.

Concentration in Cultural Studies

To receive the master of arts in Latin American studies (cultural studies), a student must complete the following units as concentration course work and general electives:

The selection of these seminars and courses must be formally approved
by the student’s personal adviser (by signing the student’s
graduate student general petition form). With approval from
his/her adviser, however, students in the cultural studies
concentration may take other seminars and courses that do not appear
in the approved list, provided that the content of the work that they
do is directly related to Latin American issues, topics, or themes.

General Electives: The remaining twelve units must be taken as follows:
two courses from the Approved List of Courses on Latin America
(eight units), and one course of Directed Reading or Independent
Research (298 or 299, four units).

Concentration in Gender Studies

To receive the master of arts in Latin American studies (gender studies), a student must complete the following units as concentration course work and general electives:

One course of directed reading (298, four units), taken with a faculty
member affiliated with the CGS Program, focused on a topic
relevant to Latin American gender studies.

General Electives: The remaining twelve units must be taken as follows:
one course from the approved list of courses on Latin America
(four units), four units of directed reading (298), and four
units of independent research (299).

Concentration in History

To receive the master of arts in Latin American studies (history), a student must complete the following units as concentration course work and general electives:

A required research seminar sequence in Latin American history (eight
units in any of the following: HIGR 245A-B-C, HIGR 247A-B,
or HIGR 248A-B).

General Electives: The remaining twelve units must be taken in departments
other than the Department of History as follows: one course
from the approved list of courses on Latin America (four
units), four units of directed reading (298), and four units of independent
research (299).

Concentration in International Migration

To receive the master of arts in Latin American studies (international migration), a student must complete the following units as concentration course work and general electives:

One course of directed reading (four units in a 298 course, focused
on a topic relevant to Latin American migratory movements).

General Electives: The remaining twelve units must be taken as follows:
one course from the approved list of courses on Latin America
(four units), four units of directed reading (298), and four
units of Independent Research (299).

Concentration in Sociology

To receive the master of arts in Latin American studies (sociology), a student must complete the following units as concentration course work and general electives:

One sociology course or seminar focused on Latin America (four units
in any of the following: SOCI 182, SOCI 188D, SOC 258).

General Electives: The remaining twelve units must be taken in departments
other than the Department of Sociology as follows: one course
from the approved list of courses on Latin America (four
units), four units of directed reading (298), and four units of independent
research (299).